Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year named the 2026 Nissan Leaf its winner during the week of International Women's Day.

Founded in 2009 by New Zealand journalist Sandy Myhre, the observance is the only automotive award judged exclusively by female journalists, who span five continents. Women make up just 27% of journalists in the U.S., according to a 2025 Reuters Institute fact sheet.

The jury “praised the Leaf for its realistic approach to electric mobility and balance of advanced electric performance and simply, enjoyable day to day driving.”

“In our voting, we have focused on vehicles that stand out not only for their figures or technology, but for how effectively they respond to people’s real, everyday needs,” said Marta García, executive president of the group. “The Nissan LEAF represents a mature and intelligent vision of electrification — one that makes electric mobility truly usable and accessible.”

Nissan first launched the Leaf in 2010 as what the company terms the world’s first mass-market electric vehicle. It is now in its third generation and has undergone improvements in design, range and technology, the Japanese automaker said.

“(The) new LEAF being named overall winner by the Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year is a proud moment for everyone at Nissan,” said Nissan President and CEO Ivan Espinosa in a press release announcing the award.

“LEAF helped bring electric driving into the mainstream, and this new generation carries that mission forward. It’s designed to make going electric easier and more enjoyable for more people around the world.”

Earlier this year, the judges also named the Leaf the best compact car.